Thank you, Volunteers!

IMG_7697-smallerAs a former volunteer for San Diego Coastkeeper, I can tell you how much Coastkeeper values its volunteers as important members of the organization. Whether it is a time to celebrate or a weekend spent in the lab testing water samples, volunteers take part in the action. Every year San Diego Coastkeeper hosts a Volunteer Appreciation Party honoring and thanking all those who contribute to supporting the mission of the organization. Our volunteers are artists, engineers, teachers, students, nature enthusiasts, members of the community, lovers of San Diego and the ocean, but most of all they are part of our family.  Our volunteers monitor San Diego’s waters, eliminate trash and educate the public on marine debris – Is there anything volunteers don’t do?

This year, we held our party at Mission Bay Yacht Club (MBYC) thanks to the generosity of the Yacht Club’s Kendal Wild. As our Executive Director Gale Filter said, “volunteers are the eyes and ears of this organization” and our efforts during and following the Los Penasquits Lagoon sewage spill are testament to that.

IMG_7695-smallerCoastkeeper recognized volunteers for their tireless efforts in Water Monitoring and Volunteer Core. With 27 Volunteer Core Hall of Fame Inductees and 41 Water Monitoring Inductees, it was one awesome party.

Special thanks to our community partners such as the Hattie Ettinger Conservation Fund at The San Diego Foundation, Patagonia and REI.

And I’d like to send out a special note of congratulations to Taya Lazootin, San Diego Coastkeeper’s Volunteer of the Year!

2011 Volunteer Core Hall of Fame

Amanda Sousa

Sierra Basegio

Taya Lazootin

Rebecca Kanter

Kevin Straw

Amy Havens

Bonnie Benitez

Chris Gunst

David Babiarz

Jaime Somers

John Freutel

Karen Wytmans

Kathleen Kelly

Katelyn Hailey

Kelsey Flynn-Granquist

Lili Canellas

Maya Wasserman

Molly Troup

Patty Malecke

Ruby Teague

Tom Bernitt

Tori Baird

Travis Johnson

Victoria Rios

Stephanie Killion

Yana Titova

2011 Water Quality Monitoring Hall of Fame

Adrian Kinnane

Al Barret

Amanda Sousa

Beth Hendershot

Bruce Hendershot

Cathryn Henning

Cynthia Gorhan

Debby Knight

Dan Murphhy

Frank Kawasaki

Graham Szybala

George Liddle

Jack Marshall

Jim Brown

Kacey Cinciarelli

Karen Waggoner

Rebecca Kanter

Rexanne Dayes

Steve Kwik

Taya Lazootin

Tom Bernitt

Allison Scofield

Ashley Brock

Chris Swanson

Dale Dalrymple

David Babiarz

Elana Colby

Glenda Poliner

Katie Jocelyn

Kelly Gallagher

Lucas Salazar

Melissa Ta

Noah Thoron

Paige Decino

Roderick Michener

Shane Mudd

Shelley Reid

Stephanie Hines

Tara Pelan

Tom Mills